Holocaust survivors to visit campus

On April 17, two Holocaust survivors will share their stories with students, faculty and the public from 4 to 6 p.m. in Room 1053 of the Carl DeSantis Building.

Hungarian couple Joe and Mary Eckstein will talk about their experiences in the Holocaust in the talk sponsored by the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences, Hillel of NSU, and the GenZ Project.

Gary Gershman, professor in the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences, teaches courses on genocide and the Holocaust and has brought Holocaust awareness to NSU for many years. This year, his goal is to bring

Holocaust survivors to campus so students can hear a firsthand experience of this tragedy before the last survivor dies.

“Unfortunately, as time passes, fewer survivors are around. It’s important that their experiences live through us,” Gershman said.

Gershman chose the Ecksteins through the the GenZ Project, a nonprofit organization run by young people who create connections with Holocaust survivors through different forms of artistic expression such as painting, poetry and dancing, in hopes that their stories live on. GenZ is the daughter company of NEXT GENERATIONS, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating others about the Holocaust.

Eric Donner, founder of the GenZ Project, said the Holocaust survivor generation is fading away and will only be around for another five to 10 years.

“Having the opportunity to hear the survivors’ experiences will allow others to raise awareness of the Holocaust and retell the stories through painting, poetry and dancing,” Donner said. “Events like these are once in a lifetime.”

85-year-old Joe Eckstein was born in Etyek, Hungary. At 15, he was packed into cattle cars and transported to the Birkenau concentration camp along with his family and other Jews. Once there, he was separated from his family who were later taken to the gas chambers and killed. At the camp, he learned how to hide to avoid beatings. After the Holocaust, he became a mechanic, was drafted into the Hungarian Red Army and served as a gunsmith.

“In spite of all the horrors I lived through, I am able to enjoy my life, my family, and my good fortune to live in this wonderful country,” Joe Eckstein said.

78-year-old Mary Eckstein was born in Budapest, Hungary where she suffered a childhood of starvation and fear. After her father returned home from forced labor, he died from Sepsis, a blood infection, as there was no medication available. Eventually she finished her schooling, became an optician and married Joe Eckstein. During to the Russian revolt, they escaped to Austria with their son and eventually settled in the U.S.

“I carry the weight of my childhood experience, but in spite of it, I am happy with my life. Most of all, I am grateful to find a home in this wonderful country,” said Mary Eckstein.

Gershman said hearing about the horrible actions the Ecksteins went through  “will hopefully wake people up.”

“When attendees see the tattoo on [Joe Eckstein’s] arm, it will be a mind-boggling experience,” Gershman said.

Donner said the Ecksteins have an incredible story, and he wants the audience to pay attention and discuss their experiences.

Gershman said the event will be emotional and become surreal for many.

“You can read all the books you want and watch all the movies, but when you actually hear it from a person with firsthand experience and see them standing right in front of you, it’s unexplainable,” he said.

More than 100 people attended last year’s event. Gershman hopes for more attendees this year and encourages attendees to embrace the stories.

“It’s important to hear the Holocaust stories. It doesn’t matter if someone is Jewish or not. We need everyone to carry on the stories and make sure they don’t fade away,” he said.

For more information about this event, contact Gershman at ggershma@nova.edu.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Leave a Reply